Alexander Chee: The Queen of the Night

Halfway through. Little disappointing so far...

And only one section to go but still disappointed that's it's still disappointing.

So finally done. Tricky to pinpoint what did not work. May have been my expectations were odd but I was hoping for, and had been led to believe by many reviewers, to expect a lush and lavish semi romantic novel steeped in opera myth and lore but from the start there seemed to be a certain flatness about everything. The style and language were certainly that right from the start. At times it was something more than mere slightly flat prose but not much more. I was always feeling that the scenes and style could have been written with much more vigour and passion. I sensed from the story that that was what was needed but it never came to fruition.

The story in terms of events and time covered had an epic and grand sweep but the way it was told did not seem to reflect that; it seemed more like a rather bland summary of spectacular events that the main character had lived through and experienced but which list much of their power and passion in the retelling.

Again, and to repeat to be honest, a constant sense of frustration as to what it could have been amazing but was merely reported.

Be interested to hear other views on this...